DAVID Cameron pledged to help businesses get Britain working again as he met the boss of Jaguar Land Rover at Downing Street.

Ralf Speth was among senior business leaders who attended a reception on “rebalancing” the economy.

Mr Cameron said he was committed to ensuring every part of the country shared in Britain’s prosperity, instead of depending on financial services in London to create wealth.

It followed a series of positive announcements by Jaguar Land Rover, which has scrapped plans to close one of its sites at Castle Bromwich and Solihull.

The firm also recently announced initiatives to create 1,500 new jobs at its plant at Halewood, Merseyside, and to recruit 1,000 engineers.

Mr Cameron said: “Across a whole range of areas you’re going to see the most pro-business, pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda ever unleashed by a government.

“It’s time we looked forward to a positive, strong, confident Britain.”

Figures published by the House of Commons laid bare the impact of the economic downturn on employment in Birmingham.

In Ladywood, the constituency with the highest unemployment rate in the country, 8,193 people claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, up from 6,715 five years ago and representing 19.6 per cent of the potential workforce.

In Hodge Hill, which has the second highest unemployment rate, 6,429 people claim Jobseeker’s Allowance, up from 4,349 five years ago and a claimant rate of 15.8 per cent.

JLR chief executive Dr Speth said: “Jaguar Land Rover is determined to grow significantly over the next few years. Tata – our parent company – is totally committed to this growth strategy.

“Confirming we would maintain three manufacturing plants in the UK was a fundamental element of our growth plans. We also took the decision to create 1,500 new jobs at our Halewood operation and to recruit 1,000 engineers.

“Additionally, JLR is boosting innovation in the UK through a £100 million partnership with Warwick Manufacturing Group, as part of annual investment in product creation that well exceeds £1 billion.”